Carly Fuhrer will be making her rookie debut this year at the CrossFit Games in Carson, California. The two-time Regional athlete is known for her trademark side ponytail. She took fourth place at the West Regional this year after an incredible finish in Event 7 — with a sprained ankle!

If you thought preparing for the Games was intense, imagine getting married the weekend before. That’s exactly what Carly and her fiancé, Sean, will be doing. Check out her story and how she’s combining training and wedding planning below.

RELATED: Carleen Mathews Dominates West Regionals

FHQ: Okay, so first things first. You just placed fourth in the West Regionals. This was your second Regionals appearance you came into the last event in seventh place. How you were feeling before and during that workout?
Carly Fuhrer: Going into this workout, in all honesty, I had no thoughts or expectations of qualifying for the Games. I thought event 7 was my worst workout, perhaps because I am not a huge fan of rope climbs. I was relaxed, and felt no pressure at all, because I figured I was out of it points-wise. My goal was to try and go faster than I had practiced and to push myself to rest a little less between climbs, thinking I had nothing to lose, might as well go out with everything I had.

As the workout started I felt good, everyone finished within seconds of each other on the first set of thrusters, and on to the rope we went. When I finished my third climb you could say I was shocked to see just Margaux and Carleen ahead of me. As we continued on I felt something inside me change, I know that might sound cheesy but it is how I felt. I walked up to my rope determined; I had no doubts, just the thought of: “get up the rope faster, that I was strong I didn’t need to rest.”

As I finished my second climb I slid down the rope, landing on the rope and rolling my ankle…ouch. At that point there is only one thing to do, GO. So I completed my work, with some tears and hopping along, but thank goodness you don’t need legs to legless rope climb right? 😉 As I ran to the finish mat, I’m not sure how to explain how I felt, as there were so many emotions going through me, but I was proud knowing that I had done everything I could on that workout.

FHQ: You had an explosive finish on Event 7, but we couldn’t help notice your limp. Is everything okay?
Carly Fuhrer: Yes, my ankle is healing up well. I was lucky to have my chiropractor, Dr. Jim Thornburg of Central Sport and Spine, on site to work on me right after this event and the days following to make sure it is healing.

I have been focused on recovery/treatment for the ankle and am happy to say the bruising was minimal and swelling is almost entirely gone, with range of motion basically back to normal.

 

FHQ: What was the big difference for you between this year (4th place finish) and last year (33rd place finish)?
Carly Fuhrer: I had a full year of training without injuries and I followed the program and believed in what I was doing 100 percent. A huge part of my training involves accessory work and I believe a lot of my success and progress is due to all those accessory/assistance exercises.

The experience of last year was also pretty helpful; I was exposed to a high level of competition and only grew mentally from that. Last year made me want to become better and make a name for myself. The realization that training isn’t always sunshine and rainbows was huge — we’re all human right? — we all have good and bad days, but I would say learning to mentally handle those bad days has been extremely beneficial to me.

 

FHQ: You’re getting married the week before your first Games appearance. That’s a lot of big stuff happening in a short period of time! How are you balancing wedding planning and training? And most importantly, are you going to eat cake at your wedding?
Carly Fuhrer: I like to think I am pretty laid back when it comes to my wedding so luckily I’m not worried too much about those small little details or having an extravagant wedding. It’s going to be outdoors at a family friend’s farm in a small town, so it’s beautiful itself and requires minimal decorations.

Training and the wedding planning has gone smooth so far, so I’m hoping I can keep that up. I spend nearly all day in the gym, so I have made this huge calendar with all my important dates which seems to be helpful. Of course, I have family and friends helping with the wedding details and keeping me in check. I plan to train up until the day of my wedding, take the wedding day off then right back to the grind the next day. I plan to FULLY enjoy my special day though — I will have champagne while getting ready, wine with our dinner, and since I don’t like cake I will be enjoying pie!  🙂

FHQ: Your fiancé is also your coach — what are you guys going to be doing differently in the next two months to prepare for the Games?
Carly Fuhrer: We will increase the amount I am swimming to multiple times a week instead of just one, and include open water swims. We will add more training outside in the heat, sprints at the track, odd object training and also continue with my usual programming.

I am headed to Boston for the Reebok Training Grounds for a few days and then to Ohio to train with Shane Sweatt (he does my programming) for a week. I always learn tons when I am there so I’m looking forward to that and I expect him to have additional input and ideas for games preparation.

 

FHQ: Did you meet your fiancé through CrossFit or is this something you guys have gotten into together?
Carly Fuhrer: Sean was very much already into CrossFit, as he owns Oregon CrossFit and got started doing it in 2009. I met Sean when I was first introduced into CrossFit at his local event (previously the Oregon Winter Games, now called the Oregon CrossFit Best of the West events) nearly 3 years ago now.

I was volunteering to help at the event and I’m so glad I went as that is what initially fired me up, making me want to compete. Now if you were to ask me if it was love at first sight or anything of the nature, it was complete opposite, because I wanted to punch him. If you all knew Sean a little more, you’d know he is maybe not the most “welcoming/friendly” at first meeting…he had been rude to us, and all I could think was, ‘Really who IS THIS GUY?’ Through the rest of the weekend, we warmed up to each other and made jokes back and forth…months later (I lived in McMinnville at the time, and he lived in Bend) I decided I would go hang out with him, after that I guess things just fell together and now we are getting married in a few short weeks.

 

FHQ: Is it true you’ve only been training for CrossFit for two years? Did you have an athletic background before that?
Carly Fuhrer: I first started CrossFit about 3 years ago and I loved how different it was from what I was doing, but like too many women I just wanted to be skinny originally…man has that changed.

Now I’m healthy, strong and loving life. I would consider my move to Bend (little over 2 years now) was when I truly started to train, and get healthy. When I first moved I was injured (low back was very weak) so I took nearly three months of just accessory work programmed by Sean before I started into training, and this is when we started following Conjugate, as well as when I first qualified for Regionals.

Everything came together much better once I was healthy and relearning movements. Before CrossFit, I played high school sports: volleyball, basketball and track and I chose not to continue basketball in college. I was always actively involved in showing horses as well. In between high school and finding CrossFit, I stayed active, mostly with running.

 

FHQ: We’re a big fan of Dan the dog. Will he be making an appearance at the Games with you?

Carly Fuhrer: I wish he could come along, sadly he’ll have to stay home this time.

 

FHQ: Speaking of Carson, what events are you hoping to see once you get to the Games?
Carly Fuhrer: Gosh, this is actually a difficult question. I would love to see a deadlift ladder and I love workouts like Fran and Diane, so a short sprint is always exciting and appealing to me.

 

FHQ: On the other hand, are there any movements you’re praying don’t show up?
Carly Fuhrer: I can hope we are not going to run a half marathon…or anything with backflips, definitely can’t do those.

You can follow Carly on Instagram at @carlyfuhrer.